Vertical file folder



J. T QUlGLEY 2,151,717

VERTICAL FILE FOLDER Filed Feb. 23; 1957 March 28, 1939.

3 Sheets-Sheet l mamag INVENTOR. I

BY 6 Q TTORNEY March 28, 1939. J. T. QUIGLEY VERTICAL FILE FOLDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb 25', 1957 TTORNE'Y J. T. QUIGLEY 1 2,151,717

V RTICAL FILE FOLDER March 28, 1939.

Filed Feb. 25, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 n 1 E 3 Egg- 9 3 W p v A I 1 I 47 4e 47 47 4e 47 22 a, 5d

Q0 I 41 I b i6 Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE VERTICAL FILE. FOLDER John 'I'. Quigley, Eagle Rock, Calif.

Application February 23, 1937, Serial No. 127,024 18 Claims. 01. 129- 167) This invention relates to a vertical file folder. An object of the invention is to provide an improved file folder having a leaf or flap which is furnished with a resilient reinforcement, which 5 may be utilized to supplant and dispense with an auxiliary guide card.

Another object is to provide a folder one of the flaps of which is constructed in such a manher that the capacity of the folder can be reg- 10 ulated as to its thickness while maintaining substantially uniform the height thereof. This object is attained by providing, for a marginal portion of one of the sheet members of the folder, an improved foldable part in combination with 15 a fold retaining clip applicable thereto.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved detachable label which performs the double function of bearing the desired inscription and serving as an attaching means whereby the .20 labeling tab as a whole is secured to the folder.

Yet another object is to provide a folder in the manufacture of which the thin, tenacious paper commonly used to wrap merchandise can be utilized more effectively in the manufacture of file holders for ofiice use.

The invention further includes, as a new article of manufacture, a paper label element which can be manufactured in the form of a strip or possibly rolls in which the individual labels are 3O separated from each other by a novel arrangement of perforated lines of cleavage.

A still further object is to provide for the folder an adjustable label which is detachably interlocked with an upper edge portion of the upstanding folder in such a manner that it will slide therealong in both directions until the outer edges of the folder and label aline with each other.

Still other objects, advantages and features of i invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate what is at present deemed to be a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the folder as it 45 appears when adjusted to contain only a few dozen sheets of paper.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View thereof adjusted for containing a bulky assemblage of papers that has been placed therein.

50 Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the folder in an empty, open condition.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the marginal portion of the extensible flap of the folder showing the same in a folded condition with the fold re- 55 taining clip applied thereto.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the clip shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the label supporting clip.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the resilient wire 5 which is combined with the back leaf of the folder to reinforce and stifien said flap.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a marginal portion of the foldable flap illustrating the improved arrangement of the folding lines thereof.

Figs. 9 and 10 are plan views of fragments of sample perforated strips from which the paper tabs to be inscribed with labels are successively torn off. Fig. 11 is a side elevation showing the appear- 15 ance of the identification means after the first step has been taken in applying the same to the folder.

Fig. 12 is a rear view of the structure shown in Fig. 11, after the identification means has been fully applied to the folder.

Fig. 13 is a section on line l3l3 of Fig. 12.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the structure illustrated and described by way of example, comprises a folder of the upstanding or vertical type the main parts of which are the flexible front leaf l5 of an adjustable length, and back leaf 16, said back leaf being of a double character and having between the two sheets or walls thereof a resilient, reinforcing wire ll.

Said reinforcing wire I! is inserted between the front wall 15a and back wall 151) of the double back leaf [6. Said walls 15a and I5!) are both parts of a single long sheet, preferably of heavy paper, altho a medium weight of ordinary com- 5 mercial wrapping paper is strong enough.

The sheet whichforms the double back flap 16, along a line spaced away from one of its ends a distance about one-third of its length, is folded upon itself. Along the fold thus formed the sheet is furnished with a folded down portion which creates a flange l8 which extends along the top edge of the back leaf [6. Each end portion of said flange I8 is closed, preferably by a hollow rivet 19 which extends therethru and is .45 anchored to the back sheet I522. The flange l8 may or may not be integral with the back flap of the folder. A separate, flange-forming strip may be attached thereto without departing from the spirit of the claimed invention. By forming said flange as a doubled over part of an already folded over sheet a strongly reinforced four-ply marginal portion is provided for the upper edge portion of the back leaf 16, said leaf being in this manner made strongest along its upper edge where it is subjected to the most strain and wear in being grasped by the hand of the user for removal from and replacement in the file holder.

The resilient reinforcing wire H, which is inserted between the front and back portions of the back leaf [6, is furnished at each end with a hook l'la which, when the Wire is in place between the sheets l5a and I5b, fits over the adjacent hollow rivet IS, the front end portions of said rivets being clinched down to hold the inserted wires firmly in place.

The front leaf portion l5a has a backwardly directed fold 2| along its lower edge, the outer face of said fold being adhered to the sheet IS!) in places, but not in such a manner as to interfere with the proper insertion of the reinforcing wire IT.

The wire I! is of a V-shape except that its middle portion or lower run 20 flattens the point of the V and this lower run lies between the flap 2| and the sheet [5a from which it extends. The flap wall [5a is thus held in position to form a smooth facing over the inserted wire l1, so that said wire will not interfere with the proper insertion of papers into the folder.

The resilient wire l1, preferably an oil tempered steel wire, automatically returns the leaf flap l8 to its normal plane after bending. The position of the spring wire 11, when inserted in the folder, is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The central portion of the inserted Wire is seated in the fold 2| of the sheet l5a, and the rivets or eyelets I9 grip the hooked end portions of the wire. When this resilient support is installed as stated, its extensions or arms are compressed to the positions determined by the width of the folder, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. '7, and the resulting tension stored up in the wire serves to keep taut the upper folded edge portion ill of the back flap.

The limp front leaf l5 of the folder is furnished along its upper edge with an extension 22 which is maintained conterminous with the upper edge of the back leaf 5, whatever the extent to which the folder is distended by its contents. Said extension 22 has across it a plurality of foldable zones including the narrowest marginal zone 23, the widest inner zone 25 and intermediate zones 24 which progressively increase in width from said zone 23 to said zone 25. 28 designates-parallel folding lines or scorings whereby the adjacent zones are folded over upon each other. By providing aforesaid folding zones of progressively increasing widths from the end edge of the sheet of which they form a part the thickness of the folded mass is distributed substantially thereacross, whereas if the zones were all of the same width the edge portions of the folded structure would be considerably the thickest, making this part of the file unnecessarily cumbersome except when expanded to the limit of its capacity.

A keeper clip 21 of stiff sheet material, desirably sheet metal, has a bent over portion 28 and rebent portion 29, thereby forming a housing for aforesaid folded over zones. The portion 28 joins the clip body 21 by an upper arcuate bend 30, and the portions 28 and 29 join each other by a lower arcuate bend 3|, thus forming a housing for the folded over zones as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Like its body part 21, the clip portions 28 and 29 are of a fiat, plate-like character.

When the clip is applied to the limp leaf l5 said leaf, adjacent to its zoned portion, is gripped with a moderate pressure between the clip body and itsinner folded over part 29. Hence the clip is adjustable, yet is frictionally held in place at the point adjusted to along the edge of the leaf l5. Said clip should be placed at a point with respect to the length of the folder Where it is convenient to form one side of the portion of the file to be gripped by the hand of the user when the file is inserted or removed, thus adding to the durability of the file if properly handled. Said clip may be slid off from the sheet to permit extension by unfolding or retraction by folding of the zoned portion thereof, whereupon the clip may be replaced, but when said clip is in place it interlocks with the folds of the sheet and. is thus safely kept from being accidentally detached.

In Fig. 2 the folder is shown containing a quantity of contents equal in extent to the width of the widest zone 25 and the adjacent zone 24, the front leaf [5 being folded along the fold line that bounds the upper side of said zone 24, thus accommodating the folders contents and maintaining the full height of said leaf. The manipulation required to adjust the folder to contain properly packets of of different thickness is speedily accomplished, the removal and replacement of the retaining clip being quickly accomplished.

The invention also pertains to one or more removable clips carried by the upper edge portion of the back leaf 16 to attach labels thereto, three labels 35, 38, and 31 being shown in Fig. 3 attached by said clips.

The labels shown in Fig. 3 vary in width but otherwise are identical in structure, and they are all retained by clips (concealed from the viewpoint of Fig. 3) which are of the same size and shape.

The clip 38, separately shown in Fig. 6, is made of a stiff sheet material and is illustrative of all these clips. It comprises a body plate 39 furnished with a central limb 40 and with outer limbs 4|, these limbs being separated by two cuts or narrow slots 42 extending deeply into the lower edge of the clip. The body portion of the clip is shown deflected at an obtuse angle with relation to said limbs of the clip, the bend preferably extending along about the midwidth of the clip, as shown in Fig. 6. The central limb 40 is slightly offset in relation to the outer limbs 4| in order that the clip may be placed astride the edge portion of a flap with the central limb on one side of the flap and the two end limbs on the opposite side thereof. The offset position of the end limbs with relation to the central limb may be reversed if desired.

Said plate 38 may be a rectangular stamping from thin sheet metal. No portion of it need be doubled or folded upon itself for, if desired, the entire surface of the front side of the plate may be perpendicular when seated upon the folder, or its upper portion may have a backward slope convenient for the reading of a label.

Assuming that the typical clip 38 of, Fig. 6 is being used as an attaching means for the. label or indexing sheet of Fig. 3, said label sheet will first be torn off from the parent sheet 45 of Fig. 9, of which it originally forms a part. In tearing off the sheet the line of cleavage occurs along a perforation line having a transverse central portion 46 and diagonal end portions 41. Each detached label sheet is therefore furnished at one end with chamfered corners 48 and at its opposite end with a pointed extension or ear 49 at each corner. In addition to the perforated cleavage lines each label sheet is furnished with folding lines I), c andd to assist the user in putrial and shape without departing ting the clip into its operative position. (In Fig. 10 is shown a wider parent sheet 45a made up of label sheets for the label 36, which is constructed in the same way and therefore lettered in the same manner as to its folds and lines of cleavage.)

In applying the label clip or support 38 and the covering thereof. to the folder, said clip is first put in place with its limbs 40 and 4| astride the folded edge portion of the back leaf l6 as shown in Fig. 11. Thereupon the chamfered end of the label sheet 35 (for example) is tucked upwardly under that portion of the folded over part l8 of the back leaf l6 which is in alinement with the applied clip 38 and creased along line b. After this has been done the label sheet is folded up over the front face of the clip 38 and creased at lines o and d and then back over its rear face, the later folding operation involving inserting the label corners 49 between the back faces of the clip limbs 4| and the folded over portion [8 of the back leaf 16.

The clip 38 is preferably made of sheet metal and is desirably obtusely bent backwards at 38?) in order that its upper portion may support the indexed portion of the paper or cardboard tab at a more convenient inclination for inspection.

Referring to certain details of construction and of operation, the reinforcing member (shown as a rod or wire of small diameter) which is housed between the two sheets or folds of the back leaf N3 of the folder, may be varied much in. matefrom the scope of the claimed invention. A suitable and economical reinforcing member is a comparatively small gauge oil tempered steel spring wire, but various resilient sheet metal members could be used, or a non-metallic member could be substituted.

The double back leaf 16 of the folder, constructed as has been described with its resilient reinforcing member, will spring back into its upstanding position after having been forcibly depressed. It, therefore, automatically maintains its height and holds. in a position for convenient inspection any printed, typewritten or handwritten matter which has been inscribed upon the label sheet mounted upon the upper edge portion of the back leaf. The flexible label sheets may, if desired, be typewritten upon, being inserted into a typewriter either singly, or in multiples by separating a group of several at one time from the strips shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

The resiliency of the reinforced back leaf [6 of the folder causes all papers inserted in the upstanding folder to rest upon the lower part of the inner face of the flexible, non-resilient limp front leaf l5. Hence the foldable extension 22 is provided for said front leaf to increase its length, said extension being folded down along a selected fold line 26 to whatever extent may be necessary to maintain the upper edge of the front leaf of the folder at substantially the same level as the doubled over upper edge of the rear flap or leaf I 6. This adjustment will be in accordance with the extent to which the leaf I 5 is forced forwardly by the thickness of the body of papers contained Within the folder. When the papers inserted within the folder are so bulky as to extend the folder to the extent very much beyond that illustrated in Fig. 2 the extension 22 will be completely unfolded and extended up as far as possible. In Fig. l the folder is shown holding only a small packet 50 of. papers, but in Fig. 2 the folder is shown filled to a greater capacity by a larger packet 5|. This file folder is constructed. in such a manner that loads equalling its total capacity are physically practical.

The double back leaf l6 of the folder, constructed by enclosing the resilient reinforcing member H as has been stated, will automatically maintain a uniform height when the folder is in place in the file and will thereby insure the visibility of any written or printed matter carried upon its upper edge. Another result of this construction is that bundles of papers inserted Within the folder while it is in an upstanding operative position are forced by the resilience of the double back leaf 6 to a position in front of the fold which units said back leaf to the front leaf, thereby causing such bundles to take all the space which they occupy from the flexible, non-resilient or limp front leaf 15.

The identification means for each folder includes the sheet metal clips and the labelled pieces of heavy paper or other sheet material overlying said clips. The frictional contact between the three limbs of the clip, and the doubled over marginal portion of the back leaf I6 is suflicient to keep said clip frictionally in the adjusted position while permitting said clip to be adjusted along the edge of the leaf; hence the labels of folders assembled in the same file can be shifted so as not to obscure the visibility of any individual label. The rivets l9 form stops to limit the shifting of the end labels 35 and 31. However, owing to the fact that the label has chamfered corner portions 68, it may be moved in either direction until itis flush with one or the other of the outer edges of the folder. The movable parts of the identification label therefore cannot be separated from the folder accidentally or otherwise Without first manually detaching the flexible part of the label so that said part will not encounter the stop means.

It will be seen that the identification means included in this invention consists of three parts: The depending sheet-flange or fold it along the upper edge of the back leaf; the label-supporting clips exemplified. by the clip 38; and the label sheets 35, 36 and 31 superimposed upon said clips. These parts combine to form a substantial, convenient and dependable identification means.

Owing to the snug manner in which the opposite end portions of the label sheets are held in place between the opposing surfaces of the parts adjacent to them, the operator can safely use the extension afforded by the combined metal clips and label sheets as an aid to lifting the folder out of its place in the file. The label sheets may be of various colors in order to en able the user to obtain a considerable variety of information from them at a glance.

Although I have described my invention in detail and therefore utilized certain specific terms and language herein, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is illustrative rather than restrictive and that changes and modifications other than those shown out departing from the spirit or the scope of the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a structure of the kind described, a flap having a folded edge portion, a clip of stiff sheet material having limbs disposed on opposite sides of said edge portion, said limbs being divided off from each other by cuts extending into an edge portion of the sheet material which forms said clip, there being an inner limb on one side of may be resorted to withg said folded edge portion of said flap and outer limbs on the other side of said folded edge portion, and a piece of flexible sheet material infolding said clip, one end portion of said piece being tucked under the fold of said flap, said piece thence extending up over said outer limbs and the adjacent face of said clip and then back over the opposite face of said clip, where said flexible sheet is furnished with downward extensions located between said outer limbs and said flap.

2. A folder for the purpose stated having a front flap and a back flap, one of said flaps consisting of two sheet portions forming a double wail therefor, and a stiffening wire within said double wall, said wire having arms provided with hooks, and fasteners extending through said double wall and engaging said hooks.

3. The subject matter of claim 2 and, said fasteners consisting of rivets which grip the hooks of said wire.

4. An upstanding folder for the purpose stated having a front leaf and a back leaf, said back leaf consisting of two portions of a single sheet one of which is folded over upon the other thereby providing said back leaf with a double wall, said folded over sheet portion having along its free edge a backwardly directed fold, and a stiffening wire within said double wall, said wire having a middle portion included within said fold and arms which extend upwardly from\ said middle portion, and fastening means for said arms extending thru said double wall.

5. An upstanding folder for the purpose stated consisting of a single sheet of paper-like material which is furnished with a front flap and a back flap, said back flap being inwardly folded over upon itself to form a double wall therefor, and a resilient stiffening element housed within said double wall.

6. The subject matter of claim 5 and, there being adjacent to the upper edge portion of said front flap a plurality of transverse consecutively downwardly increasingly spaced folding lines to facilitate folding of the upper marginal portion of said front flap in such a way as to adapt said front flap to bulging varying distances to accommodate the contents of the folder.

7. In a structure of the kind described, a flap having a folded end edge portion, a clip of stiff sheet material slidably mounted upon said folded portion by means of limbs that pass astride thereof, a sheet of thin material folded about said clip and having an edge portion slidably positioned within the fold of said folded edge portion of said flap, and fasteners passing through the end portions of said folded edge portion, said sheet having chamferedcorner portions within said folded edge portion engageable with said fasteners.

8. A folder comprising a back leaf, and a front leaf of an adjustable length, an infolded flange depending from the upper end edge of said back leaf and running longitudinally thereof, means, provided in spaced relation to the ends of said flange fastening the same to said back leaf, in combination with a label comprising means having limbs mounted astride the upper edge of the back leaf and said flange to slide therealong, and an index sheet looped about said means, said index sheet having a part thereof chamfered to engage said fastening means to arrest its sliding movement at a predetermined position.

9. An upstanding folder comprising leaves forming a front and a back, aflap formedon the upper edge portion of said front leaf, said flap having a plurality of transverse consecutively downwardly increasingly spaced folding lines to facilitate step-by-step folding and unfolding whereby the upper edges of said two backs are maintained conterminously during different stages of expansion of the folder by the contents thereof.

10. A folder comprising two sheets of material joined together, one of said sheets being resilient and the other limp, said limp sheet having one extensible marginal portion along its free upper edge, said marginal portion being scored along differently spaced parallel lines, thereby providing therealong a plurality of zones which progressively increase in width toward the body portion of the sheet, and a keeper clip embracing said zones in their folded over condition, said clip being slidably removable from the sheet to permit extension and retraction of the zoned portion thereof.

11. A folder comprising two sheets of material joined together, one of said sheets being resilient and the other limp, said limp sheet having one extensible marginal portion along its free upper edge, said marginal portion being scored along differently spaced parallel lines, thereby providing therealong a plurality of zones which progressively increase in width toward the body portion of the sheet, and a keeper clip embracing said zones in their folded over condition, said clip being slidably removable from the sheet to permit extension and retraction of the zoned portion thereof, said clip being of sheet material and consisting of a body portion furnished with bent over and rebent portions, thereby forming outer and inner parallel runs spaced apart to receive between them said folded zones, said clip being resilient and having its body portion and aforesaid inner part springing into a yielding contact with each other to grip between them the body portion of the sheet adjacent to its said zoned portion.

12. In a folder of the kind described, a limp flap, a relatively stiff flap joined thereto, said limp flap having a free marginal end portion furnished with a plurality of fold lines, and a clip slidably engageable in an interlocking manner with said marginal portion when the latter is in a folded condition to keep the folds thereof from extension.

13. In a folder of the kind described, a main side sheet or flap having a free marginal portion consisting of a series of folds which progressively increase in width, from the upper edge of the sheet, the narrower folds of said series being nested within the wider folds thereof, and a keepor detachably enveloping said series of folds.

14. A folder for vertical filing comprising a leaf having a free marginal portion consisting of a series of successive parallel folds of progressively increasing widths extending inwardly from the marginal edge of the sheet and forming upon such edge when folded an enveloped mass of compactly superimposed strips whose edges are in non-superimposition, and means for holding said strips against accidental unfolding.

15. A folder for vertical filing having a front leaf and a back leaf, said back leaf consisting of two portions of a single sheet one of which is folded over the other thereby providing said back leaf with a double wall, said folded-over sheet portion having along its free edge a backwardly directed fold, and a resilient wire within said double wall, said wire having a middle portion included within said fold and arms which extend upwardly from said middle portion, and fastening means for said arms extending through said double wall, and means to secure said backwardly directed fold to the rear wall of said back leaf.

16. A folder for vertical filing comprising a leaf having a folded edge portion, a supporting plate of stiff sheet material having limbs disposed on opposite sides of said edge portion, and a piece of flexible sheet material infolding said plate, one end portion of said piece extending between the folds of the aforementioned folded portion of said leaf at one side of said plate, said piece having at its opposite end, portions which are inserted between said plate and the face of said folded portion of said leaf, said limbs of said plate being formed by cuts extending into an edge portion thereof.

17. A folder for vertical filing comprising a leaf having an upper end portion traversed by a plurality of parallel weakened folding lines commencing at the free end of said leaf and proceeding toward its center with a uniformly increasing distance between each of said folding lines and the next succeeding line; and a clip formed from a strip of sheet metal bent upon itself to provide an interior space sufficient for the insertion therein of an end of the folded portion of said leaf after being folded upon one or more of said weakened lines; said interior space in said clip being closed at the top and the bottom and open at both sides; and a narrower interior space in said clip suificient to admit simultaneously with said insertion an unfolded edge of the leaf carrying the said folded portion, said narrower interior space being closed at its top and open at its bottom and at both its sides; and a narrower interior space in said clip suficient to admit simultaneously with said insertion an unfolded edge of the leaf carrying the said folded portion, said narrower interior space being closed at its top and open at its bottom and at both its sides; said two interior spaces being separated by an integral tongue of said clip extending upwardly and engaging the under side of the top fold of said folder leaf; and the lower end of one wall portion of said clip extending downwardly to form a guide facilitating the slipping of said clip over said unfolded edge of said folder leaf and upon the folded portion, l I g 18. A folder of the upstanding or vertical type comprising main parts consisting of a flexible front leaf and a back leaf, a reinforcement for said back leaf comprising a resilient wire, the free ends of said wire being hooked and fastened to the corners of said back leaf adjacent the marginal portion thereof and the portion of said wire intermediate its ends being nested in the angle formed by the parting of the two sheets.

JOHN T. QUIGLEY. 

